Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
A blessing in disguise – Something good that first seemed bad
Hindi: छिपा हुआ वरदान
Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.
Break the ice – Start a conversation
Hindi: बातचीत शुरू करना
He told a joke to break the ice.
Once in a blue moon – Very rarely
Hindi: बहुत कम
I visit my village once in a blue moon.
Hit the nail on the head – Say exactly right
Hindi: बिल्कुल सही कहना
You hit the nail on the head.
Piece of cake – Very easy
Hindi: बहुत आसान
This exam is a piece of cake.
Cost an arm and a leg – Very expensive
Hindi: बहुत महंगा
This phone costs an arm and a leg.
Under the weather – Feeling sick
Hindi: अस्वस्थ
I’m feeling under the weather today.
Spill the beans – Reveal a secret
Hindi: राज़ खोल देना
Don’t spill the beans!
Burn the midnight oil – Work late at night
Hindi: रात भर पढ़ाई/काम करना
She burned the midnight oil before exams.
The ball is in your court – Your turn to act
Hindi: अब आपकी बारी
I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.
In hot water – In trouble
Hindi: मुसीबत में
He is in hot water with his boss.
Beat around the bush – Avoid the main point
Hindi: बात को घुमा-फिरा कर कहना
Stop beating around the bush.
At the drop of a hat – Immediately
Hindi: तुरंत
She will help you at the drop of a hat.
Cry over spilled milk – Regret something that can’t be changed
Hindi: बीती बात पर पछताना
There’s no use crying over spilled milk.
On cloud nine – Very happy
Hindi: बहुत खुश
She was on cloud nine after winning.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Pull someone’s leg – Joke with someone
Hindi: मज़ाक करना
I was just pulling your leg.
Back to square one – Start again
Hindi: फिर से शुरुआत
The plan failed; we’re back to square one.
A dime a dozen – Very common
Hindi: बहुत आम
Cheap phones are a dime a dozen.
Call it a day – Stop working
Hindi: काम खत्म करना
Let’s call it a day.
Go the extra mile – Do more than expected
Hindi: अतिरिक्त प्रयास करना
Good teachers go the extra mile.
Bite the bullet – Face a painful situation
Hindi: कठिन परिस्थिति का सामना करना
He bit the bullet and apologized.
Actions speak louder than words – Deeds matter more
Hindi: कर्म शब्दों से बड़े होते हैं
Don’t promise—actions speak louder than words.
Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal secret accidentally
Hindi: गलती से राज़ खोल देना
She let the cat out of the bag.
Every cloud has a silver lining – Hope in bad times
Hindi: हर बुरे समय में अच्छाई होती है
Don’t worry; every cloud has a silver lining.
Hit the sack – Go to sleep
Hindi: सोने जाना
I’m tired; time to hit the sack.
Fish out of water – Uncomfortable situation
Hindi: असहज स्थिति
He felt like a fish out of water.
Jump the gun – Act too early
Hindi: जल्दबाज़ी करना
Don’t jump the gun.
Kill two birds with one stone – One action, two results
Hindi: एक तीर से दो निशाने
This trip kills two birds with one stone.
On the same page – Agree
Hindi: एकमत होना
Let’s be on the same page.
Barking up the wrong tree – Wrong direction
Hindi: गलत रास्ता अपनाना
You’re barking up the wrong tree.
The tip of the iceberg – Small visible part of a big problem
Hindi: समस्या का छोटा हिस्सा
This issue is just the tip of the iceberg.
Rome wasn’t built in a day – Patience needed
Hindi: बड़े काम में समय लगता है
Success takes time—Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Throw in the towel – Give up
Hindi: हार मान लेना
He threw in the towel.
A penny for your thoughts – What are you thinking?
Hindi: क्या सोच रहे हो?
You’re quiet—penny for your thoughts?
Cut corners – Do cheaply or badly
Hindi: शॉर्टकट अपनाना
Don’t cut corners in safety.
Hit the road – Start a journey
Hindi: यात्रा शुरू करना
Let’s hit the road.
Burn bridges – Destroy relationships
Hindi: संबंध तोड़ लेना
Don’t burn bridges.
Face the music – Accept punishment
Hindi: परिणाम भुगतना
He must face the music.
In the nick of time – Just in time
Hindi: बिल्कुल समय पर
The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
Off the hook – Free from blame
Hindi: जिम्मेदारी से मुक्त
You’re off the hook.
Apple of my eye – Someone very dear
Hindi: बहुत प्यारा
She is the apple of my eye.
By hook or by crook – By any means
Hindi: हर हाल में
He will succeed by hook or by crook.
Cold feet – Lose courage
Hindi: डर जाना
He got cold feet before marriage.
Make ends meet – Manage expenses
Hindi: गुज़ारा करना
It’s hard to make ends meet.
No pain, no gain – Hard work needed
Hindi: मेहनत के बिना सफलता नहीं
Remember—no pain, no gain.
In black and white – Clearly written
Hindi: लिखित प्रमाण
The rules are in black and white.
Turn a blind eye – Ignore deliberately
Hindi: जानबूझकर अनदेखा करना
Don’t turn a blind eye to corruption.
Up in the air – Uncertain
Hindi: अनिश्चित
The plan is still up in the air.
Word of mouth – Spoken information
Hindi: मुँह-जुबानी प्रचार
The shop became famous by word of mouth.
At sixes and sevens – Confused
Hindi: अस्त-व्यस्त
Everything was at sixes and sevens.
Have butterflies in stomach – Nervous
Hindi: घबराहट होना
I had butterflies before the interview.
Break a leg – Good luck
Hindi: शुभकामनाएँ
Break a leg in your exam!
Cut to the chase – Get to the point
Hindi: सीधे मुद्दे पर आना
Cut to the chase, please.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Down to earth – Practical, humble
Hindi: सरल और व्यवहारिक
He’s very down to earth.
Hit below the belt – Unfair action
Hindi: अनुचित वार
That comment hit below the belt.
Let bygones be bygones – Forget past
Hindi: पुरानी बातें भूल जाना
Let bygones be bygones.
On thin ice – Risky situation
Hindi: खतरे में
You’re on thin ice.
Take with a grain of salt – Don’t fully believe
Hindi: पूरी तरह विश्वास न करना
Take his story with a grain of salt.
Wild goose chase – Useless search
Hindi: बेकार कोशिश
It was a wild goose chase.
The last straw – Final annoyance
Hindi: आख़िरी सीमा
That insult was the last straw.
Put all eggs in one basket – Depend on one thing
Hindi: सारा दांव एक पर लगाना
Don’t put all eggs in one basket.
Throw cold water on – Discourage
Hindi: हतोत्साहित करना
Don’t throw cold water on my idea.
Go cold turkey – Quit suddenly
Hindi: अचानक छोड़ देना
He quit smoking cold turkey.
In a nutshell – Briefly
Hindi: संक्षेप में
Explain it in a nutshell.
Raise the bar – Increase standards
Hindi: स्तर बढ़ाना
This success raised the bar.
Square peg in a round hole – Wrong fit
Hindi: अनुपयुक्त व्यक्ति
He’s a square peg in a round hole.
Take the bull by the horns – Face boldly
Hindi: साहस से सामना करना
Take the bull by the horns.
Speak of the devil – Person appears while talking
Hindi: जिसकी चर्चा वही आ पहुँचा
Speak of the devil—here he comes!
A leopard can’t change its spots – Nature doesn’t change
Hindi: स्वभाव नहीं बदलता
He cheated again—leopard can’t change spots.
In deep water – Serious trouble
Hindi: बड़ी मुसीबत में
He is in deep water now.
Put your foot down – Be strict
Hindi: सख़्ती दिखाना
The teacher put her foot down.
Hit the jackpot – Great success
Hindi: बड़ी सफलता
He hit the jackpot with that deal.
Play devil’s advocate – Argue opposite side
Hindi: विरोधी पक्ष रखना
Let me play devil’s advocate.
Jump on the bandwagon – Follow trend
Hindi: चलन के पीछे भागना
Everyone jumped on the bandwagon.
At your fingertips – Easily available
Hindi: तुरंत उपलब्ध
Information is at your fingertips.
Keep an eye on – Watch carefully
Hindi: नज़र रखना
Keep an eye on the kids.
Bend over backwards – Try very hard
Hindi: बहुत कोशिश करना
She bent over backwards to help.
On the spur of the moment – Suddenly
Hindi: अचानक
We decided on the spur of the moment.
Get out of hand – Uncontrollable
Hindi: नियंत्रण से बाहर
The situation got out of hand.
Leave no stone unturned – Try everything
Hindi: कोई कसर न छोड़ना
He left no stone unturned.
Burn the candle at both ends – Overwork
Hindi: ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा मेहनत
Don’t burn the candle at both ends.
Read between the lines – Understand hidden meaning
Hindi: छिपा अर्थ समझना
Read between the lines.
On cloud seven – Extremely happy
Hindi: बहुत खुश
She’s on cloud seven.
Kick the bucket – Die
Hindi: मर जाना
The old man kicked the bucket.
Throw someone under the bus – Betray
Hindi: धोखा देना
He threw his friend under the bus.
The whole nine yards – Everything
Hindi: पूरी तरह
We gave the whole nine yards.
Take a back seat – Become less important
Hindi: पीछे हटना
He took a back seat.
On the ball – Alert, efficient
Hindi: सतर्क
She’s really on the ball.
Miss the boat – Lose opportunity
Hindi: मौका चूक जाना
I missed the boat.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Call a spade a spade – Speak plainly
Hindi: साफ़-साफ़ कहना
Call a spade a spade.
Keep fingers crossed – Hope for luck
Hindi: उम्मीद करना
Keep your fingers crossed.
Make a long story short – Brief summary
Hindi: संक्षेप में कहना
To make a long story short, we won.
Go the whole hog – Do completely
Hindi: पूरी तरह करना
Let’s go the whole hog.
Hit the ceiling – Become very angry
Hindi: बहुत गुस्सा होना
Dad hit the ceiling.
Throw caution to the wind – Take risk
Hindi: जोखिम उठाना
He threw caution to the wind.
Bite off more than you can chew – Take too much
Hindi: क्षमता से ज़्यादा लेना
Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Cut the mustard – Meet expectations
Hindi: अपेक्षा पर खरा उतरना
He couldn’t cut the mustard.
In the long run – Eventually
Hindi: अंततः
Hard work pays in the long run.
Jump to conclusions – Decide too quickly
Hindi: जल्द निष्कर्ष निकालना
Don’t jump to conclusions.
The best of both worlds – Two advantages
Hindi: दोनों का लाभ
This job offers the best of both worlds.
Above board – Honest, legal
Hindi: ईमानदार
The deal was completely above board.
Against the clock – In a hurry
Hindi: समय की कमी में
We are working against the clock.
All ears – Listening carefully
Hindi: ध्यान से सुनना
I’m all ears.
At arm’s length – Keep distance
Hindi: दूरी बनाए रखना
Keep negative people at arm’s length.
At the eleventh hour – Last moment
Hindi: आख़िरी समय पर
The decision was made at the eleventh hour.
Back to the drawing board – Start again
Hindi: नई योजना बनाना
The plan failed—back to the drawing board.
Be in the same boat – Same situation
Hindi: एक ही स्थिति में होना
We are all in the same boat.
Bite your tongue – Stop speaking
Hindi: चुप रह जाना
I bit my tongue to avoid a fight.
By leaps and bounds – Rapidly
Hindi: तेज़ी से
The company is growing by leaps and bounds.
Call it quits – End relationship/work
Hindi: समाप्त कर देना
They decided to call it quits.
Come rain or shine – No matter what
Hindi: हर हाल में
I’ll attend the class, rain or shine.
Cut no ice – Have no effect
Hindi: असर न होना
Your excuse cuts no ice with me.
Drive someone up the wall – Annoy badly
Hindi: बहुत परेशान करना
Noise drives me up the wall.
Eat humble pie – Admit mistake
Hindi: गलती स्वीकार करना
He had to eat humble pie.
Far-fetched – Unrealistic
Hindi: अविश्वसनीय
That story sounds far-fetched.
Feather in one’s cap – Achievement
Hindi: गर्व की बात
Winning the award was a feather in his cap.
Get a taste of your own medicine – Same bad treatment
Hindi: अपनी करनी का फल
The bully got a taste of his own medicine.
Give someone the cold shoulder – Ignore
Hindi: अनदेखा करना
She gave him the cold shoulder.
Go down in flames – Fail badly
Hindi: बुरी तरह असफल होना
His plan went down in flames.
Hang in there – Don’t give up
Hindi: धैर्य रखना
Hang in there, things will improve.
Have an axe to grind – Personal interest
Hindi: निजी स्वार्थ
He has an axe to grind.
In a pickle – In difficulty
Hindi: परेशानी में
I’m in a pickle right now.
Keep the ball rolling – Continue activity
Hindi: काम जारी रखना
Let’s keep the ball rolling.
Leave someone in the lurch – Abandon
Hindi: मुसीबत में छोड़ देना
He left me in the lurch.
Make a mountain out of a molehill – Exaggerate
Hindi: छोटी बात को बड़ा बनाना
Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Neck and neck – Equal competition
Hindi: बराबरी की टक्कर
Both teams were neck and neck.
On pins and needles – Very anxious
Hindi: बेचैन
She was on pins and needles.
Out of the blue – Suddenly
Hindi: अचानक
He called me out of the blue.
Pass the buck – Avoid responsibility
Hindi: ज़िम्मेदारी टालना
Don’t pass the buck.
Play it by ear – Decide later
Hindi: परिस्थिति देखकर करना
Let’s play it by ear.
Pull the plug – Stop something
Hindi: बंद कर देना
They pulled the plug on the project.
Put two and two together – Understand
Hindi: बात समझ जाना
She put two and two together.
Rain on someone’s parade – Spoil happiness
Hindi: खुशी खराब करना
Don’t rain on my parade.
Rock the boat – Cause trouble
Hindi: परेशानी खड़ी करना
Don’t rock the boat.
Run out of steam – Lose energy
Hindi: थक जाना
He ran out of steam.
See eye to eye – Agree
Hindi: सहमत होना
We don’t see eye to eye.
Sit on the fence – Not decide
Hindi: तटस्थ रहना
Stop sitting on the fence.
Steal the show – Get all attention
Hindi: सबसे ज़्यादा ध्यान खींचना
Her performance stole the show.
Take the plunge – Decide boldly
Hindi: साहसिक निर्णय लेना
He took the plunge and started a business.
The writing on the wall – Clear warning
Hindi: आने वाली समस्या के संकेत
The writing on the wall was clear.
Through thick and thin – In all situations
Hindi: हर परिस्थिति में
They stayed together through thick and thin.
Toe the line – Follow rules
Hindi: नियमों का पालन करना
Employees must toe the line.
Turn the tables – Reverse situation
Hindi: बाज़ी पलटना
Hard work turned the tables.
Under one’s nose – Obvious but unnoticed
Hindi: आँखों के सामने
The clue was under his nose.
Up the creek – In serious trouble
Hindi: बड़ी मुसीबत में
Without money, we’re up the creek.
Wash your hands of – Refuse responsibility
Hindi: पल्ला झाड़ लेना
He washed his hands of the matter.
Wear many hats – Do many jobs
Hindi: कई भूमिकाएँ निभाना
She wears many hats.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – Rumors have truth
Hindi: अफ़वाहों में सच्चाई होती है
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Wrap your head around – Understand
Hindi: समझ पाना
I can’t wrap my head around this.
You can say that again – Strong agreement
Hindi: बिल्कुल सही कहा
You can say that again!
Add fuel to the fire – Make a bad situation worse
Hindi: आग में घी डालना
His angry reply added fuel to the fire.
All thumbs – Clumsy
Hindi: अनाड़ी
I’m all thumbs when it comes to cooking.
At one’s wit’s end – Completely frustrated
Hindi: पूरी तरह परेशान
I’m at my wit’s end with this problem.
Bite the dust – Fail or die
Hindi: हार जाना / नष्ट होना
Many small shops bit the dust.
Blow one’s own trumpet – Praise oneself
Hindi: अपनी तारीफ़ करना
He loves blowing his own trumpet.
Bring home the bacon – Earn money
Hindi: रोज़ी-रोटी कमाना
She works hard to bring home the bacon.
Cast pearls before swine – Waste good things
Hindi: अयोग्य को योग्य चीज़ देना
Teaching him is like casting pearls before swine.
Cross one’s fingers – Hope for success
Hindi: उम्मीद करना
Cross your fingers for good luck.
Cry wolf – Give false alarm
Hindi: झूठी चेतावनी देना
If you cry wolf, no one will trust you.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Draw the line – Set a limit
Hindi: सीमा तय करना
I draw the line at dishonesty.
Eat like a horse – Eat a lot
Hindi: बहुत ज़्यादा खाना
He eats like a horse.
Fall flat – Fail to impress
Hindi: असफल होना
His joke fell flat.
Get cold feet – Become nervous
Hindi: डर जाना
She got cold feet before the speech.
Give the benefit of the doubt – Trust without proof
Hindi: संदेह का लाभ देना
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.
Go to the dogs – Become ruined
Hindi: बर्बाद हो जाना
The building has gone to the dogs.
Have one’s hands full – Be very busy
Hindi: बहुत व्यस्त होना
She has her hands full with work.
In the same breath – At the same time
Hindi: साथ ही
He praised and criticized her in the same breath.
Jump out of one’s skin – Be startled
Hindi: बहुत चौंक जाना
I jumped out of my skin at the noise.
Keep one’s fingers crossed – Hope strongly
Hindi: ज़ोरदार उम्मीद करना
I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Let sleeping dogs lie – Avoid old issues
Hindi: पुरानी बात न उखाड़ना
Don’t ask him—let sleeping dogs lie.
Make a clean breast of – Confess fully
Hindi: सच्चाई स्वीकार करना
He made a clean breast of his mistake.
Move heaven and earth – Try very hard
Hindi: जी-जान लगा देना
She moved heaven and earth to help him.
Not one’s cup of tea – Not liked
Hindi: पसंद न होना
Politics is not my cup of tea.
On the warpath – Very angry
Hindi: बहुत गुस्से में
The boss is on the warpath.
Out of the frying pan into the fire – From bad to worse
Hindi: एक मुसीबत से दूसरी में
Changing jobs put him out of the frying pan into the fire.
Put one’s foot in one’s mouth – Say something embarrassing
Hindi: गलत बात कह देना
I really put my foot in my mouth.
Pull someone’s socks up – Improve behavior
Hindi: खुद को सुधारना
You need to pull your socks up.
Read the riot act – Give strong warning
Hindi: कड़ी फटकार लगाना
The teacher read him the riot act.
Show one’s true colors – Reveal real nature
Hindi: असली रूप दिखाना
He showed his true colors.
Take the wind out of one’s sails – Discourage
Hindi: हतोत्साहित करना
His criticism took the wind out of my sails.
Talk through one’s hat – Talk nonsense
Hindi: बिना ज्ञान के बोलना
He’s talking through his hat.
The die is cast – Decision made
Hindi: फैसला हो चुका है
The die is cast; we can’t change it.
Tooth and nail – With full force
Hindi: पूरी ताकत से
They fought tooth and nail.
Turn a deaf ear – Ignore deliberately
Hindi: अनसुना करना
He turned a deaf ear to advice.
Under the table – Secretly
Hindi: गुप्त रूप से
The deal was done under the table.
Walk on eggshells – Act carefully
Hindi: बहुत संभलकर चलना
I walk on eggshells around him.
With flying colors – With great success
Hindi: शानदार सफलता
She passed the exam with flying colors.
At loggerheads – In conflict
Hindi: टकराव में
The two teams are at loggerheads.
Bury the hatchet – End a fight
Hindi: झगड़ा खत्म करना
They finally buried the hatchet.
Carry the day – Win approval
Hindi: जीत हासिल करना
His argument carried the day.
Chalk and cheese – Completely different
Hindi: ज़मीन-आसमान का अंतर
They are like chalk and cheese.
Give a free hand – Allow full freedom
Hindi: पूरी छूट देना
The manager gave me a free hand.
Hard nut to crack – Difficult problem/person
Hindi: कठिन समस्या
This case is a hard nut to crack.
In cold blood – Without mercy
Hindi: निर्दयता से
The crime was committed in cold blood.
Lay bare – Reveal truth
Hindi: उजागर करना
The report laid bare the facts.
Make short work of – Finish quickly
Hindi: जल्दी निपटा देना
She made short work of the task.
Out of sorts – Slightly ill or upset
Hindi: मन खराब होना
I’m feeling out of sorts today.
Pull out all the stops – Use all efforts
Hindi: पूरी ताकत लगा देना
They pulled out all the stops.
Smell a rat – Suspect something wrong
Hindi: गड़बड़ लगना
I smell a rat in this deal.
Take someone to task – Scold strongly
Hindi: कड़ी डाँट लगाना
The officer took him to task.
At face value – Accept as it appears
Hindi: जैसा दिखे वैसा मान लेना
Don’t take his words at face value.
Bend the rules – Slightly break rules
Hindi: नियमों में ढील देना
Sometimes you must bend the rules.
Big fish to fry – Important matters
Hindi: ज़्यादा ज़रूरी काम
I have bigger fish to fry.
Black sheep – Disgraced family member
Hindi: बदनाम सदस्य
He is the black sheep of the family.
Clear the air – Remove misunderstanding
Hindi: गलतफ़हमी दूर करना
Let’s clear the air.
Come clean – Confess truthfully
Hindi: सच स्वीकार करना
It’s time to come clean.
Cool as a cucumber – Very calm
Hindi: बहुत शांत
She stayed cool as a cucumber.
Dead to the world – Sleeping deeply
Hindi: गहरी नींद में
He was dead to the world.
Do the honors – Perform duty
Hindi: औपचारिकता निभाना
Please do the honors.
Down in the dumps – Very sad
Hindi: बहुत उदास
He’s been down in the dumps.
Draw a blank – Fail to remember
Hindi: कुछ याद न आना
I drew a blank during the exam.
Drop a hint – Give indirect suggestion
Hindi: इशारा करना
She dropped a hint about marriage.
Face the facts – Accept reality
Hindi: सच्चाई स्वीकार करना
You must face the facts.
Fair and square – Honestly
Hindi: पूरी ईमानदारी से
He won fair and square.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Feel under the pump – Be under pressure
Hindi: दबाव में होना
She feels under the pump.
From pillar to post – Here and there
Hindi: इधर-उधर भटकना
He ran from pillar to post.
Get the show on the road – Start work
Hindi: काम शुरू करना
Let’s get the show on the road.
Give and take – Mutual adjustment
Hindi: आपसी समझौता
Marriage needs give and take.
Go belly up – Go bankrupt
Hindi: दिवालिया हो जाना
The company went belly up.
Go overboard – Overdo something
Hindi: हद से ज़्यादा करना
Don’t go overboard.
Grasp the nettle – Deal boldly
Hindi: साहस से सामना करना
Grasp the nettle and decide.
Green with envy – Very jealous
Hindi: ईर्ष्या से भरा
He was green with envy.
Have a sweet tooth – Love sweets
Hindi: मिठाई पसंद करना
She has a sweet tooth.
Hear it on the grapevine – Get rumors
Hindi: अफ़वाह सुनना
I heard it on the grapevine.
Hold one’s horses – Be patient
Hindi: धैर्य रखना
Hold your horses!
In clover – Prosperous
Hindi: खुशहाल
He’s living in clover.
In no time – Very quickly
Hindi: तुरंत
We’ll finish in no time.
Jump the queue – Skip turn
Hindi: लाइन तोड़ना
Don’t jump the queue.
Keep body and soul together – Barely survive
Hindi: मुश्किल से गुज़ारा करना
He works hard to keep body and soul together.
Keep one’s chin up – Stay hopeful
Hindi: हिम्मत बनाए रखना
Keep your chin up.
Know the ropes – Be experienced
Hindi: काम की समझ होना
She knows the ropes.
Lay low – Stay hidden
Hindi: छुपकर रहना
Lay low for some time.
Leave well enough alone – Don’t interfere
Hindi: बिना वजह न छेड़ना
Leave well enough alone.
Let off steam – Release anger
Hindi: भड़ास निकालना
Go exercise to let off steam.
Like clockwork – Very punctual
Hindi: बिल्कुल समय पर
The bus runs like clockwork.
Make a beeline for – Go straight
Hindi: सीधा जाना
He made a beeline for home.
Make headway – Progress
Hindi: प्रगति करना
We are making headway.
Mean business – Be serious
Hindi: गंभीर होना
He means business.
Miss the point – Fail to understand
Hindi: बात न समझना
You missed the point.
Mum’s the word – Keep secret
Hindi: चुप रहना
Mum’s the word.
No room to swing a cat – Very small space
Hindi: बहुत तंग जगह
This room has no space to swing a cat.
Not playing with a full deck – Not smart
Hindi: पूरी समझ न होना
He’s not playing with a full deck.
Off one’s rocker – Crazy
Hindi: पागल
He’s off his rocker.
On a shoestring – Very low budget
Hindi: बहुत कम बजट में
We ran the business on a shoestring.
Out of bounds – Not allowed
Hindi: निषिद्ध
That topic is out of bounds.
Pass with flying colors – Succeed brilliantly
Hindi: शानदार सफलता
She passed with flying colors.
Pay through the nose – Overpay
Hindi: ज़्यादा पैसे देना
I paid through the nose.
Pick up the pieces – Recover after loss
Hindi: नुकसान के बाद संभलना
He picked up the pieces.
Play second fiddle – Be less important
Hindi: गौण भूमिका निभाना
He hates playing second fiddle.
Pull one’s weight – Do fair share
Hindi: अपना हिस्सा निभाना
Everyone must pull their weight.
Put on airs – Act superior
Hindi: घमंड दिखाना
Don’t put on airs.
Quick on the uptake – Learn fast
Hindi: जल्दी समझने वाला
She’s quick on the uptake.
Rest on one’s laurels – Be complacent
Hindi: पुरानी सफलता पर निर्भर रहना
Don’t rest on your laurels.
Right off the bat – Immediately
Hindi: तुरंत
He agreed right off the bat.
Run in the family – Hereditary
Hindi: खानदानी होना
Talent runs in the family.
Sell like hot cakes – Sell fast
Hindi: तेज़ी से बिकना
The book sold like hot cakes.
Shot in the dark – Wild guess
Hindi: अंदाज़ा
It was a shot in the dark.
Sink or swim – Survive on own effort
Hindi: अपने दम पर सफल या असफल होना
It’s sink or swim now.
Stick to one’s guns – Remain firm
Hindi: अडिग रहना
He stuck to his guns.
Take a rain check – Postpone
Hindi: बाद में करना
I’ll take a rain check.
Take one’s time – Don’t hurry
Hindi: आराम से करना
Take your time.
The proof of the pudding – Result shows value
Hindi: परिणाम ही प्रमाण है
The proof of the pudding is in eating.
Throw one’s weight around – Use power unfairly
Hindi: दबदबा दिखाना
He throws his weight around.
Time and again – Repeatedly
Hindi: बार-बार
I warned him time and again.
To a T – Perfectly
Hindi: बिल्कुल सही
The dress fits to a T.
Turn up one’s nose at – Reject proudly
Hindi: घमंड से ठुकराना
She turned up her nose at the offer.
Under one’s belt – Achieved
Hindi: अनुभव में शामिल
He has many wins under his belt.
Up to scratch – Good enough
Hindi: मानक के अनुरूप
Your work isn’t up to scratch.
Water under the bridge – Past issue
Hindi: बीती बात
It’s water under the bridge.
When pigs fly – Never
Hindi: कभी नहीं
That will happen when pigs fly.
With a grain of truth – Partly true
Hindi: आंशिक सत्य
The rumor has some truth.
Work one’s fingers to the bone – Work very hard
Hindi: बहुत मेहनत करना
She worked her fingers to the bone.
Worth one’s salt – Competent
Hindi: योग्य
A teacher worth his salt cares.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
You bet – Certainly
Hindi: बिल्कुल
You bet I’ll come!
A clean slate – Fresh start
Hindi: नई शुरुआत
Start with a clean slate.
At daggers drawn – Bitterly hostile
Hindi: दुश्मनी में
They are at daggers drawn.
Backseat driver – Meddler
Hindi: बिना ज़िम्मेदारी दखल देने वाला
Stop being a backseat driver.
Bats in the belfry – Slightly crazy
Hindi: थोड़ा पागल
He’s got bats in the belfry.
Below the belt – Unfair
Hindi: अनुचित
That remark was below the belt.
Bring the house down – Get loud applause
Hindi: ज़बरदस्त तालियाँ
Her act brought the house down.
Caught red-handed – Caught in act
Hindi: रंगे हाथ पकड़ा जाना
He was caught red-handed.
Down to the wire – At last moment
Hindi: आख़िरी क्षण तक
The match went down to the wire.
Give the game away – Reveal secret
Hindi: राज़ खोल देना
He gave the game away.
In the limelight – Public attention
Hindi: चर्चा में
She is in the limelight.
Keep mum – Stay silent
Hindi: चुप रहना
Keep mum about it.
Lose one’s grip – Lose control
Hindi: नियंत्रण खोना
He’s losing his grip.
Make waves – Cause impact
Hindi: हलचल मचाना
The news made waves.
Not lift a finger – Do nothing
Hindi: कुछ भी मदद न करना
He didn’t lift a finger.
On the back burner – Postponed
Hindi: फिलहाल टालना
The plan is on the back burner.
Raise eyebrows – Cause surprise
Hindi: हैरानी पैदा करना
His decision raised eyebrows.
Run the show – Be in charge
Hindi: संचालन करना
She runs the show.
Save face – Avoid embarrassment
Hindi: इज़्ज़त बचाना
He apologized to save face.
Take center stage – Become main focus
Hindi: मुख्य भूमिका में आना
The issue took center stage.
The boot is on the other foot – Situation reversed
Hindi: स्थिति उलट जाना
Now the boot is on the other foot.
Throw a fit – Lose temper
Hindi: गुस्सा करना
He threw a fit.
Touch wood – Hope for luck
Hindi: नज़र न लगे
Touch wood, everything’s fine.
Under one’s thumb – Controlled
Hindi: नियंत्रण में
He’s under her thumb.
Win hands down – Win easily
Hindi: आसानी से जीतना
She won hands down.
Without batting an eyelid – Without hesitation
Hindi: बिना झिझक
He agreed without batting an eyelid.
Your guess is as good as mine – I don’t know
Hindi: मुझे भी नहीं पता
Your guess is as good as mine.
A close shave – Narrow escape
Hindi: बाल-बाल बचना
It was a close shave, but he survived.
A drop in the ocean – Very small amount
Hindi: ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा
My help is just a drop in the ocean.
A far cry from – Very different
Hindi: बहुत अलग
This village is a far cry from city life.
A fool’s paradise – False happiness
Hindi: झूठी खुशी
Living without planning is a fool’s paradise.
At cross purposes – Misunderstand each other
Hindi: गलत समझ होना
They were talking at cross purposes.
At one stroke – All at once
Hindi: एक ही बार में
He solved all problems at one stroke.
At six and seven – In disorder
Hindi: अस्त-व्यस्त
Everything was at six and seven.
Back on one’s feet – Recovered
Hindi: फिर से स्वस्थ/सक्षम
He is back on his feet now.
Bear the brunt – Suffer most
Hindi: सबसे ज़्यादा सहना
The poor bear the brunt of inflation.
Behind the scenes – Secretly
Hindi: पर्दे के पीछे
He works behind the scenes.
Below par – Below standard
Hindi: स्तर से कम
His performance was below par.
Blow hot and cold – Change opinions
Hindi: बार-बार विचार बदलना
He blows hot and cold on this issue.
By the skin of one’s teeth – Barely
Hindi: मुश्किल से
He passed by the skin of his teeth.
Call the shots – Be in control
Hindi: फ़ैसला करना
She calls the shots here.
Catch someone napping – Find unprepared
Hindi: अनजान हालत में पकड़ना
The enemy caught them napping.
Chew the cud – Think deeply
Hindi: विचार करना
He’s chewing the cud.
Close ranks – Unite
Hindi: एकजुट होना
The team closed ranks.
Come to light – Become known
Hindi: सामने आना
The truth came to light.
Cook the books – Do fraud
Hindi: हिसाब में हेराफेरी
They were caught cooking the books.
Cross swords – Argue strongly
Hindi: तीखी बहस करना
They crossed swords in court.
Cut and dried – Already decided
Hindi: पहले से तय
The deal is cut and dried.
Dog in the manger – Selfish person
Hindi: खुद न करे, दूसरों को न करने दे
Don’t be a dog in the manger.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Draw the long bow – Exaggerate
Hindi: बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कहना
He drew the long bow.
Eat one’s words – Admit wrong
Hindi: अपनी बात से पलटना
He had to eat his words.
Fall on deaf ears – Be ignored
Hindi: अनसुना रह जाना
My advice fell on deaf ears.
Fly off the handle – Lose temper
Hindi: अचानक गुस्सा होना
He flew off the handle.
Get one’s act together – Be organized
Hindi: खुद को संभालना
Get your act together.
Give short shrift – Dismiss quickly
Hindi: तुरंत खारिज करना
The idea was given short shrift.
Go to any lengths – Do anything
Hindi: किसी भी हद तक जाना
He’ll go to any lengths to win.
Grin and bear it – Endure patiently
Hindi: चुपचाप सहना
Just grin and bear it.
Have a finger in every pie – Interfere everywhere
Hindi: हर जगह दखल
He has a finger in every pie.
Hold water – Be logical
Hindi: सही होना
Your argument doesn’t hold water.
In the doldrums – Depressed
Hindi: उदास स्थिति
Business is in the doldrums.
In the red – In debt
Hindi: घाटे में
The company is in the red.
Jump down someone’s throat – Overreact angrily
Hindi: तुरंत गुस्सा करना
Don’t jump down my throat.
Keep the wolf from the door – Avoid poverty
Hindi: गरीबी से बचना
He works hard to keep the wolf from the door.
Leave no room for doubt – Be clear
Hindi: कोई संदेह न छोड़ना
His actions leave no room for doubt.
Make both ends meet – Manage income
Hindi: गुज़ारा करना
It’s hard to make both ends meet.
Make bricks without straw – Do impossible
Hindi: बिना साधन काम करना
You can’t make bricks without straw.
Not worth a dime – Useless
Hindi: बिल्कुल बेकार
That promise is not worth a dime.
Off the cuff – Without preparation
Hindi: बिना तैयारी
He spoke off the cuff.
On tenterhooks – In suspense
Hindi: बेचैनी में
We were on tenterhooks.
Out of the woods – Safe now
Hindi: खतरे से बाहर
We’re not out of the woods yet.
Play hardball – Be very tough
Hindi: सख़्ती दिखाना
They’re playing hardball.
Put paid to – End completely
Hindi: पूरी तरह समाप्त करना
The evidence put paid to rumors.
Read someone like a book – Understand clearly
Hindi: पूरी तरह समझ लेना
I can read him like a book.
Rule the roost – Be dominant
Hindi: प्रभुत्व जमाना
She rules the roost at home.
Set the record straight – Correct misunderstanding
Hindi: गलतफहमी दूर करना
Let me set the record straight.
Smell blood – Sense weakness
Hindi: कमजोरी भाँपना
Opponents smelled blood.
Split hairs – Argue trivial points
Hindi: बेकार बहस करना
Stop splitting hairs.
Stick out like a sore thumb – Be obvious
Hindi: साफ दिखाई देना
He sticks out like a sore thumb.
Stonewall someone – Refuse to cooperate
Hindi: टालमटोल करना
They stonewalled the inquiry.
Strike while the iron is hot – Act at right time
Hindi: सही समय पर काम करना
Strike while the iron is hot.
Sweep under the carpet – Hide problem
Hindi: बात छिपाना
Don’t sweep it under the carpet.
Take a leaf out of someone’s book – Follow example
Hindi: किसी से सीख लेना
Take a leaf out of his book.
Take someone down a peg – Humble someone
Hindi: घमंड तोड़ना
That loss took him down a peg.
The last nail in the coffin – Final blow
Hindi: आख़िरी चोट
That mistake was the last nail.
Throw good money after bad – Waste more
Hindi: और नुकसान करना
Don’t throw good money after bad.
To the bitter end – Until the end
Hindi: आख़िर तक
He fought to the bitter end.
Turn turtle – Reverse completely
Hindi: पूरी तरह पलटना
The situation turned turtle.
Under a cloud – Suspected
Hindi: संदेह के घेरे में
He is under a cloud.
Up to one’s neck – Deeply involved
Hindi: पूरी तरह फँसा
I’m up to my neck in work.
Wash dirty linen in public – Air private issues
Hindi: निजी बात सार्वजनिक करना
Don’t wash dirty linen in public.
Well begun is half done – Good start helps
Hindi: अच्छी शुरुआत आधा काम
Plan well—half the job is done.
Wheels within wheels – Complex scheme
Hindi: जटिल चाल
Politics has wheels within wheels.
With bated breath – Anxiously
Hindi: बेचैनी से
We waited with bated breath.
Without rhyme or reason – No logic
Hindi: बिना कारण
He left without rhyme or reason.
Work against the clock – Race with time
Hindi: समय से लड़ना
Doctors worked against the clock.
Write off – Consider lost
Hindi: छोड़ देना
Don’t write him off.
Zero in on – Focus closely
Hindi: ध्यान केंद्रित करना
The police zeroed in on him.
A bed of roses – Easy life
Hindi: आराम की ज़िंदगी
Life isn’t a bed of roses.
A bolt from the blue – Sudden shock
Hindi: अचानक झटका
The news was a bolt from the blue.
All at sea – Confused
Hindi: उलझन में
I’m all at sea.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Back to the wall – In difficulty
Hindi: मजबूरी में
He had his back to the wall.
Bark worse than one’s bite – Less harmful
Hindi: दिखावा ज़्यादा
He barks worse than he bites.
Beat the air – Waste effort
Hindi: बेकार कोशिश
Arguing now is beating the air.
Bite one’s nails – Be anxious
Hindi: घबराना
He was biting his nails.
Bring to book – Punish
Hindi: सज़ा देना
The officer was brought to book.
Burn one’s fingers – Suffer loss
Hindi: नुकसान उठाना
He burned his fingers in stocks.
Cast in the same mould – Similar nature
Hindi: एक जैसा स्वभाव
They are cast in the same mould.
Clutch at straws – Desperate attempt
Hindi: आख़िरी कोशिश
He was clutching at straws.
Come what may – No matter what
Hindi: जो भी हो
I’ll support you, come what may.
Cut the Gordian knot – Solve boldly
Hindi: साहसिक समाधान
He cut the Gordian knot.
Eat out of someone’s hand – Be controlled
Hindi: पूरी तरह काबू में
The crowd ate out of his hand.
Face the music – Accept consequences
Hindi: परिणाम झेलना
Now face the music.
Go great guns – Do very well
Hindi: शानदार प्रदर्शन
Business is going great guns.
Hang fire – Delay action
Hindi: टालना
Let’s hang fire.
In hot pursuit – Chasing closely
Hindi: पीछा करते हुए
Police were in hot pursuit.
Keep the home fires burning – Maintain morale
Hindi: हौसला बनाए रखना
Families kept the home fires burning.
Leave a bad taste – Unpleasant memory
Hindi: बुरा अनुभव
The incident left a bad taste.
Make a virtue of necessity – Accept situation
Hindi: मजबूरी को स्वीकार करना
He made a virtue of necessity.
On the face of it – Apparently
Hindi: ऊपर से देखने पर
On the face of it, it looks fine.
Play fast and loose – Act irresponsibly
Hindi: गैर-जिम्मेदार होना
He plays fast and loose with rules.
Put the cart before the horse – Wrong order
Hindi: उलटा क्रम
Don’t put the cart before the horse.
Ruffle feathers – Cause anger
Hindi: नाराज़ करना
His remarks ruffled feathers.
Show the door – Ask to leave
Hindi: बाहर निकाल देना
He was shown the door.
Take stock of – Evaluate
Hindi: आकलन करना
Take stock of the situation.
The long and short of it – Summary
Hindi: सारांश
The long and short is—we lost.
Toe the mark – Follow rules
Hindi: नियम मानना
Employees must toe the mark.
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve – Show emotions openly
Hindi: भावनाएँ खुलकर दिखाना
She wears her heart on her sleeve.
A square deal – Fair treatment
Hindi: निष्पक्ष व्यवहार
Everyone deserves a square deal.
All in a day’s work – Part of routine
Hindi: रोज़मर्रा का काम
Handling complaints is all in a day’s work.
At one’s beck and call – Ready to serve
Hindi: हर समय सेवा के लिए तैयार
He keeps his staff at his beck and call.
Back the wrong horse – Support wrong side
Hindi: गलत पक्ष का समर्थन करना
He backed the wrong horse.
Bag and baggage – With all belongings
Hindi: पूरा सामान सहित
He left the city bag and baggage.
Be at large – Free, not caught
Hindi: खुलेआम घूमना
The criminal is still at large.
Be in clover – Very comfortable
Hindi: सुखी और समृद्ध
After promotion, he is in clover.
Bide one’s time – Wait patiently
Hindi: सही समय की प्रतीक्षा करना
Just bide your time.
Blow one’s cover – Reveal identity
Hindi: पहचान उजागर होना
He blew his cover.
Bring to light – Reveal
Hindi: उजागर करना
The investigation brought facts to light.
By fits and starts – Irregularly
Hindi: रुक-रुक कर
Work progressed by fits and starts.
Cast in stone – Fixed, unchangeable
Hindi: अटल
The plan is not cast in stone.
Change one’s tune – Change opinion
Hindi: विचार बदलना
He changed his tune after loss.
Close the books – Finish accounts
Hindi: हिसाब बंद करना
The company closed the books.
Come hell or high water – No matter what
Hindi: किसी भी हालत में
I’ll support you come hell or high water.
Cut to the bone – Reduce drastically
Hindi: बहुत कटौती करना
Expenses were cut to the bone.
Down and out – Very poor
Hindi: पूरी तरह कंगाल
He was down and out.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Drop in the bucket – Very small amount
Hindi: नगण्य
This aid is a drop in the bucket.
Face up to – Accept bravely
Hindi: साहस से स्वीकार करना
Face up to your mistakes.
Fall into place – Become clear
Hindi: सब ठीक बैठ जाना
Everything fell into place.
From rags to riches – Rise in wealth
Hindi: गरीबी से अमीरी तक
His life went from rags to riches.
Get off lightly – Receive small punishment
Hindi: हल्की सज़ा मिलना
He got off lightly.
Give the green light – Approve
Hindi: अनुमति देना
The boss gave the green light.
Go for broke – Risk everything
Hindi: सब कुछ दांव पर लगाना
He went for broke.
Hard pressed – Under pressure
Hindi: मजबूरी में
I’m hard pressed for time.
Have one’s cake and eat it too – Want both
Hindi: दोनों लाभ चाहना
You can’t have cake and eat it too.
In the lap of luxury – Very rich
Hindi: ऐशो-आराम में
He lives in the lap of luxury.
Jump ship – Leave suddenly
Hindi: अचानक छोड़ देना
Many employees jumped ship.
Keep at bay – Keep away
Hindi: दूर रखना
Vaccines keep disease at bay.
Lay one’s cards on the table – Be honest
Hindi: खुलकर सच कहना
Lay your cards on the table.
Learn the hard way – Learn by suffering
Hindi: कठिन अनुभव से सीखना
He learned the hard way.
Make a killing – Earn huge profit
Hindi: भारी मुनाफा कमाना
He made a killing in business.
Make one’s blood boil – Enrage
Hindi: बहुत गुस्सा दिलाना
That insult made my blood boil.
Mind one’s Ps and Qs – Be careful
Hindi: शिष्टाचार रखना
Mind your Ps and Qs.
No love lost – Mutual dislike
Hindi: आपसी नफ़रत
There’s no love lost between them.
Not up to the mark – Below standard
Hindi: स्तर के अनुसार नहीं
His work isn’t up to the mark.
On one’s last legs – Near collapse
Hindi: आख़िरी हालत में
The company is on its last legs.
Out of hand – Unmanageable
Hindi: काबू से बाहर
The situation went out of hand.
Play one’s trump card – Use strongest advantage
Hindi: सबसे बड़ी चाल चलना
He played his trump card.
Put one’s best foot forward – Make best effort
Hindi: पूरी कोशिश करना
Put your best foot forward.
Read the tea leaves – Predict future
Hindi: भविष्य का अनुमान लगाना
He tried to read the tea leaves.
Rise to the occasion – Meet challenge
Hindi: चुनौती का सामना करना
She rose to the occasion.
Run out of luck – Luck ends
Hindi: किस्मत साथ न देना
He ran out of luck.
Set one’s heart on – Desire strongly
Hindi: दिल से चाहना
She set her heart on the job.
Speak volumes – Say a lot without words
Hindi: बहुत कुछ कहना
His silence spoke volumes.
Stick one’s neck out – Take risk
Hindi: जोखिम उठाना
He stuck his neck out.
Take the heat – Accept criticism
Hindi: आलोचना सहना
Leaders must take the heat.
The powers that be – Authorities
Hindi: सत्ताधारी लोग
The powers that be decided.
Throw in one’s lot with – Join side
Hindi: पक्ष में शामिल होना
He threw in his lot with them.
Turn over a new leaf – Start afresh
Hindi: नई शुरुआत करना
He turned over a new leaf.
Under one’s breath – Whispered
Hindi: धीमे स्वर में
He muttered under his breath.
Up in arms – Angry protest
Hindi: गुस्से में विरोध
People are up in arms.
Walk the tightrope – Handle delicate situation
Hindi: नाज़ुक स्थिति सँभालना
He’s walking a tightrope.
Weather the storm – Survive trouble
Hindi: मुश्किल झेलना
The firm weathered the storm.
Where the shoe pinches – Real problem
Hindi: असली परेशानी
He knows where the shoe pinches.
With open arms – Welcome warmly
Hindi: खुले दिल से स्वागत
They welcomed him with open arms.
Without a hitch – Smoothly
Hindi: बिना रुकावट
The event went without a hitch.
Work to rule – Follow rules strictly
Hindi: नियमों के अनुसार ही काम करना
Workers decided to work to rule.
A double-edged sword – Both good and bad
Hindi: दोधारी तलवार
Fame is a double-edged sword.
A long shot – Unlikely chance
Hindi: कम संभावना
Winning was a long shot.
All hands on deck – Everyone help
Hindi: सबकी मदद चाहिए
It’s all hands on deck.
At the helm – In charge
Hindi: नेतृत्व में
She is at the helm.
Back to basics – Start from fundamentals
Hindi: मूल बातों से शुरुआत
Let’s go back to basics.
Beat a retreat – Withdraw
Hindi: पीछे हटना
The army beat a retreat.
Bide by the rules – Follow rules
Hindi: नियमों का पालन करना
We must bide by the rules.
Common Idioms with Examples & Hindi Meaning
Cut one’s losses – Stop further loss
Hindi: नुकसान रोकना
Cut your losses now.
Go against the grain – Oppose tradition
Hindi: परंपरा के खिलाफ़ जाना
This idea goes against the grain.
Hit the ground running – Start energetically
Hindi: जोश के साथ शुरुआत
He hit the ground running.
In the driver’s seat – In control
Hindi: नियंत्रण में
She’s in the driver’s seat.
Jump through hoops – Make great effort
Hindi: बहुत प्रयास करना
He jumped through hoops.
Keep one’s head above water – Just survive
Hindi: किसी तरह गुज़ारा करना
He struggles to keep his head above water.
Lay the groundwork – Prepare foundation
Hindi: नींव रखना
They laid the groundwork.
Make a name for oneself – Become famous
Hindi: नाम कमाना
She made a name for herself.
Move the goalposts – Change rules
Hindi: नियम बदल देना
Don’t move the goalposts.
No stone left unturned – Try everything
Hindi: पूरी कोशिश करना
No stone was left unturned.
On the brink – About to happen
Hindi: कगार पर
The country is on the brink of war.
Play one’s cards right – Act wisely
Hindi: समझदारी से काम लेना
Play your cards right.
Pull the strings – Control secretly
Hindi: पर्दे के पीछे नियंत्रण
He pulls the strings.
Raise the stakes – Increase risk
Hindi: जोखिम बढ़ाना
They raised the stakes.
Read the room – Sense mood
Hindi: माहौल समझना
Learn to read the room.
Save for a rainy day – Save money
Hindi: भविष्य के लिए बचत
Save for a rainy day.
Seal the deal – Finalize agreement
Hindi: सौदा पक्का करना
They sealed the deal.
Steer clear of – Avoid
Hindi: दूर रहना
Steer clear of trouble.
Take the reins – Take control
Hindi: नियंत्रण संभालना
She took the reins.
The ballpark figure – Rough estimate
Hindi: अनुमानित आँकड़ा
Give me a ballpark figure.
Through the grapevine – By rumor
Hindi: अफ़वाह से
I heard it through the grapevine.
Toe the party line – Follow party view
Hindi: पार्टी का अनुसरण करना
He toes the party line.
Turn the corner – Begin to improve
Hindi: सुधार की ओर बढ़ना
The business turned the corner.
Under the spotlight – Public focus
Hindi: सार्वजनिक ध्यान में
He’s under the spotlight.
Up one’s sleeve – Secret plan
Hindi: छुपी योजना
He has a trick up his sleeve.
Walk out on – Abandon
Hindi: छोड़ देना
Don’t walk out on me.
Win over – Persuade
Hindi: अपने पक्ष में करना
She won the crowd over.
Without pulling punches – Frankly
Hindi: साफ़-साफ़
He spoke without pulling punches.
Worth its weight in gold – Very valuable
Hindi: बहुत क़ीमती
Good advice is gold.
A different kettle of fish – Different matter
Hindi: बिल्कुल अलग बात
That’s a different kettle of fish.
Across the board – Apply to all
Hindi: सभी पर लागू
Salary increased across the board.
Bide one’s luck – Trust fortune
Hindi: किस्मत पर छोड़ना
He decided to bide his luck.
Cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth – Live within means
Hindi: आमदनी अनुसार खर्च
Cut your coat according to your cloth.
In one’s good books – Favored
Hindi: पसंदीदा बनना
He’s in the boss’s good books.
Make hay while the sun shines – Use opportunity
Hindi: अवसर का लाभ उठाना
Make hay while the sun shines.
Read More: Common Homophones with Hindi Meaning & Examples